You Are 'All In One'

Questions & Answers

Gurudev, what if Abhimanyu, Nachiketa and Eklavya (characters from the Indian epics) come together? What lessons can today’s youth draw from them?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Eklavya teaches us how to be a student; how to learn, and how to feel the connection with the master.He teaches us how to have that one-sided love, one-sided connection, and how that can bring about skill within you. That is what we can learn from Eklavya.

Nachiketa teaches us steadfastness. He was determined and he was steadfast in getting to know what he really wanted to know. He could not be tempted by anything. He could not be deviated from his goal.

From Abhimanyu, we can learn valor and finesse. And how, alone without losing courage, he could face everyone in all directions. If someone else was in his place they would have run away. He challenged thousands of people everywhere.Only a person who is firmly centered can accept challenges from thousands of people. He could fight thousands alone, that was Abhimanyu’s greatness.

If you go into these scriptures, you can find so many glorious qualities, and imbibe them all in you. In fact you should know that they are already present in you.If you think you don’t have them, and you try to imbibe them, it becomes a strenuous thing to do, and success becomes doubtful.You should know you already have these qualities and you only have to nurture them. Then it becomes easier.Do not try to develop divine qualities and think it is difficult. Whenever we think something is difficult, our mind moves away from that. This is the nature of our mind. We don’t want to do something that is difficult.

One is challenge, another is difficulty.Young people want to take up challenges. A young person says, 'I want to do something challenging'.But even young people, when they find something difficult, and when they think, 'Oh, this is very difficult', that means they want to move away from it. But for a challenge, you say, 'Yes, I want to take that challenge'. There is a slight difference in our attitude.

The moment we say, 'Difficulty', the mind or the spirit tries to withdraw from it. It is not natural to be in difficulty.So, you should assume that all the good qualities are already within you. Never think it is difficult to attain them. And when you acknowledge that they are present in you in the form of a seed and you need to nurture them, then you will be able to nurture it. If you think you don’t have them, then you will not even make that little effort to nurture those qualities.

Gurudev, there are many avatars (an incarnate divine teacher) and each avatar is complete. So why do we have so many avatars?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Why should we not. In fact we should have even more!Avatar means descending. Descending for a social cause. And if you see from my eyes, you will see the whole universe is just simply a manifestation. Everything is an avatar, there is nothing that is devoid of avatar.The infinite consciousness has dawned to serve. That is avatar.

If being one with nature is the most natural state, then why should one make any effort doing that? We start to identify ourselves with the mind and the body, and that’s why we suffer. But we don't do this on purpose. We grow up and it happens.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Yes, that is correct, that is part of growth.You know, in a seed, first there is a membrane around the seed. And that is necessary. At a particular time the membrane gives way, so the can sprout. Like that, in life, first the identities come and then you get out of these identities. This is a natural phenomenon.

Gurudev, how many times should we pray in a day? And how should it be done?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Whenever you wake up from sleep, at that time remember God. And before sleeping as well.

Some people say to remember God 24 hours. Now this is not possible. When can you pray? When you are awake. You cannot pray while you are sleeping.

So, when should pray? Anytime from the time you wake up, to the time you go to sleep.

Now, how many times should one pray? In Vedic scriptures, it is said to pray 3 times; at sunrise, at noon, and at sunset. These three times you should pray, meditate or chant the Gayatri Mantra. This has been said.

Still, I would say, whenever you can, remember God. Remember God when you look at flowers, when look at trees, or the river; wherever you look, remember God.

Whenever happiness fills up within you, when you feel grateful, on all these occasions, remember god. Prayer and remembrance are not time bound. As many times as you like you can remember God.

If you love someone, can you say that you will only remember them five times a day? Whoever you love, they can come to your mind at anytime! Many times, loves don't even take a break, they think of their lover all the time; while walking, eating, working; all the time their lover is on their mind.

See, prayer happens on two occasions. One is, when you feel so grateful then prayer happens. Or, when you feel utterly helpless, then also prayer happens.

In these two occasions, prayer automatically happens. But if you consciously want to make prayer a part of your routine, I would say, pray as soon as you wake up. Sit and meditate. Before and after meditation you can do a couple minutes of some chanting. Then, before having food for a couple of minutes. Before going to bed, for a couple of minutes. Like this, make your whole life prayerful.

Gurudev, what is the meaning of 'dhriti'? What dhriti did Dhritarashtra (father of the Kauravas in the Mahabharata) have?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Dhrita means To Uphold.Dhritarashtra means one who holds the nation. If the one who upholds the nation is blind, then war is inevitable.If one who upholds the nation, he and his wife, both are blind (Dhritarashtra who was naturally blind and his wife Gandhari who was willfully blind) then what can happen to the nation? Nothing but war.See, in those days, even the names had so much meaning; it is so beautiful.Dhriti means something which supports, and Dharma also means the same thing. Dharma is that which supports life. Dharma upholds life, preventing it from falling down.